Environment champions, the Wirral Wombles are up for a national award

Environment champions from Wirral have been shortlisted for one of Keep Britain Tidy’s annual awards.

Wirral Council nominated the efforts of the Wirral Wombles group of volunteers to make environmental improvements in their local area for this year’s Keep Britain Tidy Awards.

There are ten award categories, each with three shortlisted contenders, and Wirral’s nomination has beaten off stiff competition from across the country to become one of three finalists in the #LitterHeroes Award category.

The awards recognise and celebrate local authorities and community groups that are committed to making significant improvements to the environment on people’s doorsteps, from community engagement work to waste enforcement work.

Wirral Wombles is a group of like-minded people who come together to inspire and support each other to make Wirral an even better place to be. Anyone can be a ‘womble’ – all they need to do is pledge to pick up a couple of pieces of litter when they’re out and about.

Their Facebook group boasts more than 2,700 members, many of whom regularly post photos of their own litter picks, which can range from one or two items to three or four bin-bags full.

Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee for Wirral Council, said:

“We are so blessed in Wirral to benefit from the unwavering commitment of a diverse range of volunteers to help keep our streets and open spaces tidy. We could have nominated any of these individuals or groups for the Keep Britain Tidy #LitterHeroes award this year, but we focused on the Wombles this time because of the way they are inspiring so many people to litter pick in their own communities.

“It is fantastic that they are receiving national recognition like this, it is so deserved. I wish Team Wirral the very best of luck at the final ceremony in February and I have every confidence they will bring home the award.”

Andrea Cutts and Lindsey Whitley, speaking on behalf of the Wombles, added:

“It has been a phenomenal first year for the Wirral Wombles, we’re so proud of everything everyone has achieved, keeping our beautiful peninsula tidy.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, said:

“I would like to congratulate Wirral on being shortlisted for one of our annual awards.

“We know that people want to live in places that are clean and tidy and local authorities have a massive role to play in this and should rightly be recognised for their efforts.

“We are thrilled that so many authorities entered our awards and, again, the standard was incredibly high. We look forward to seeing Wirral’s representatives at our awards ceremony in Birmingham in February.”

The Keep Britain Tidy Awards will be presented at the charity’s annual Network Conference at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole hotel on Thursday, February 10th, 2022.

Wirral Wombles have also been named as the winner of this year’s Environment Hero award in the Wirral Globe Community Heroes 2021. These awards honour and recognise NHS staff, shopworkers, volunteers and young people as well as business, education and hospitality workers who have gone above and beyond during the last 22 months.

Join the Wirral Wombles Facebook Group here.